Vice President Jessica Alupo Nominated Ahead of Schedule for Katakwi Woman MP in NRM Primaries

Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo has been officially nominated by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission to contest in the upcoming party primaries for the Katakwi District Woman Member of Parliament seat, a position she currently occupies.

Alupo, who won the Katakwi Woman MP seat during the 2021 general elections and was subsequently appointed Vice President by President Yoweri Museveni, made a high-profile appearance at the NRM Electoral Commission Headquarters in Kampala, where jubilant supporters welcomed her in a show of overwhelming grassroots enthusiasm.

She was received by the NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, and the party’s Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong, who presided over her nomination process. Alupo’s nomination came ahead of the officially designated nomination window, a decision that Dr. Odoi explained was due to her scheduled international engagements on official government business.

“The Vice President was cleared early due to upcoming official duties abroad during the nomination period,” Dr. Odoi stated, emphasizing that the special clearance was within the party’s guidelines.

Accompanied by her seconder, John Robert Okiril, Alupo presented her national identification and completed nomination papers, which were carefully verified before being formally accepted.

Jessica Alupo’s early nomination is widely interpreted as a strategic affirmation of her enduring influence both within Katakwi and at the national level. As one of Uganda’s most senior leaders, Alupo continues to command strong support within the NRM and among constituents in Teso Sub-region.

Speaking to the press after her nomination, the Vice President commended the NRM’s internal electoral process, describing it as, “very simple, short and transparent.”

“I can see the fourth principle of democracy taking shape in this procedure,” she remarked, in reference to the democratic values the NRM upholds during internal party elections.

Alupo congratulated the party on a smooth start to the nomination process and called for a peaceful, civil, and issue-based primary season.

“I congratulate the NRM for registering candidates and I look forward to a very free and fair process of the internal party elections,” she said.

Emphasizing the need for decorum among aspirants, Alupo urged her fellow contenders across the country to uphold peace and unity during the primaries.

“I call upon candidates who are going to participate to be very calm and peaceful during elections,” she stated.

“I encourage them to popularize the achievements of the NRM during their campaigns so that Ugandans can be very conversant with what the government has done.”

She also reflected on her past political contests in Katakwi, where she has consistently faced opposition but maintained cordial relations with her competitors.

“I have always contested and had opponents—usually around five. I maintain relationships with them because it gives me an opportunity to listen to their views and promotes peace among the people in the area.”

Alupo’s remarks reinforced the inclusive and accommodative ethos of the NRM.

“I trust and believe that NRM is a mass party. It has sustained its huge support across the country through accommodation,” she emphasized.

In a gesture of confidence and respect for party institutions, she also urged the NRM Electoral Commission to remain impartial and ensure that the primaries reflect the true will of the people.

“I would like to request the NRM EC, which has issued the guidelines—let them do their part and ensure elections are free and fair,” she said. “Let the candidates who are supported by people be the ones who are given the flag.”

Closing her remarks, the Vice President affirmed her unwavering commitment to the NRM electoral code of conduct.

“I have read the guidelines, picked nomination forms, and returned them with a very big understanding of those guidelines. I would like to assure the EC that as a candidate I will adhere to the set guidelines.”

Her early nomination sets a high bar for other contenders and signals a well-prepared and confident campaign aimed at retaining her seat and continuing her dual role as Uganda’s Vice President and Member of Parliament for Katakwi District.

As the NRM internal election season intensifies, Alupo’s words and actions appear aimed at fostering unity, transparency, and stability both within the party and among the electorate she serves.

By John Kusolo – Political Correspondent, Kampala